Cold molasses feeder



Get. 27, 1931. H. J., sl-n-LTQN 1,829,066

' COLD MoLLAssEs FEEDER Filed Oct. 14, 1929 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITEDf STATES COLD MOLASSES yFEEDER Application led October 14, 1929."L Serial No. 899,616.

This inventionrelates to certain new and useful improvements in cold molasses feeders, the eculiarities of which will be hereinafter ully described and claimed.

The main objects of my invention are to provide gravitating flow of a regulated stream of cold molasses into a feed mixer from a storage tank in the cellar or other location lower than said mixer; secondly, to

provide an interposed device measuring the percentages of molasses thus delivered to the mixer; thirdly, to provide atmospheric pressure to said stream at a point above its entrance vto said mixer and thus relieve said stream from `the pressure thereon `due to pumping it to said elevated point from which it will gravitate to the entrance of the mixer; and fourthly, to break up said stream into smallportions or drops that will more readily mix with the material being agitated below the entering stream.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numeralsindicate corresponding parts, n

Fig.y 1 illustrates a cold molasses equipment exemplifying my invention;

Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 3 designates a molasses storage chamber in the basement or other location belon7 a feed mixer 4 directly connected to a motor or otherwise driven, and havinga feeder 5 adapted to deliver to the mixer a continuous regulated stream of feed material from a supply bm 6.

A molasses pump 7 or other suitable pressure means connected to said storage chamber, forces the molasses up through a pipe 8 to an elevated point or horizontal plane 9 from which I cause it to flow by gravity to an inlet 10 at the top or other point above the bottom of the mixer.

Usually such a forced stream of molasses is introduced under pressure to the mixer, and is subject to continuous pressure from the pump or other pressure means to the inlet of the mixer, and must be carefullyregulated to L void flooding the mixer by an excess of molasses due to sudden opening of its valve or otherwise.

My y'construction kprovides for forcing a stream of coldv molasses to an elevated point or horizontal plane abovethe mixer, relieving said stream of theA lifting pressure therel on and supplyingair at atmospheric pres- '55 sure to said stream before it reaches the inlet to allow gravitating flow of said stream from said elevated point. or plane to the inlet of `the mixer, preferably located at the top so that the entering stream will bequickly inle0 tercepted by rotary spiral-beaters 11,l broken up into small `portions or drops and thoroughlyl mixed with the feed material to make the desired mixture.` v

The-verticalpipe 8 is connected to an exl65 pansion chamber preferably by horizontally disposed ipe 12 leading thereto. This expansion c iamber is preferably formed by a larger pipe 13 vertically disposed, having its upper end `14 open to the atmosphere and communicating by its lower end 15 with said inlet 10 of themixer. AThe o en end 14 supplies yair to thestream at saidielevated point or plane at which the pressure is relieved,`al lows the molasses to flow by gravitating tend- 5 ency to said-outlet, and does away with pressure on said stream prior to its arrival at said inlet 10.` p

Regulating and measuring means are preferably interposed in saidhpipe 8 between the 'so pump and the mixer, as fully described in my prior application thereon Ser. No. 37 9,691, filed July 20, 1929.

In starting such a pump an irregular discharge occurs due to air drawn in to the pump @t which causes the molasses to spurt as the air rises and expands after reaching the horizontal pipe or the expansion chamber. The pump soon operates with regularity, but this air included with the molasses in starting the 9D pump finds exit through said upper end 14 which thus serves an additional function of air discharge as stated above.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a feed mixer supplied with a regulated stream of feed material, a molasses storage chamber located below said mixer, means to force a regulated stream of molasses to a point above its entrance to said mixer, an 190 interposed measuring device for said forced molasses stream, and an expansion chamber adjacent said point and subject to atmospheric press/ure and communicating with said mixer, substantially as described.

2. A device of the character described comprising a 'feed mixer, a pipe communicating therewith above the bottom thereof, means to force molasses up through said pipe, and an expansion chamber interposed in -said pipe above the bottom of the mixer and communieating therewith and open to the atmosphere and providing gravitating loW of molasses into the said mixer, substantially as described.

3. A device of the character described comprising a feed mixer, a vertically disposed pipe communicating by its lower end with said mixer above the bottom thereof and forming .an expansion chamber open to the atmosphere atits upper end, a smaller pipe communicating with the larger pipe at a point intermediate of its ends, and means to force molasses through said smaller pipe to the 'larger pipe from which it will gravitate to said mixer, substantially as described.

4. A device of the character described comprising a feed mixer, means to supply a continuous stream of feed material thereto, a vertically disposed relief pipe communicating by its loWer endA with the top of said mixer and open to the atmosphere at its upper end, a horizontally disposed pipe communicating with said vertical disposed pipe above its lower end, a supply pipe connected to said horizontally disposed pipe, means to force cold mola-sses up through said supply pipe, and spirally arranged beaters rotatably mounted in said mixer adapted to break up the gravitating stream of cold molasses as it enters the mixer and to mix it With the feed substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aliixed my signature.

HARRY J. SHELTON. 

